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Southern by the Grace of God
The incomparable Grizzard shares anecdotes of his beloved homeland. No other contemporary humorist knew the South so well, loved it so passionately, or wrote about it so vividly.
- GenresHumorNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2001
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About the author
Lewis Grizzard
66 books88 followersAmerican writer and humorist, known for his Southern demeanor and commentary on the American South. Although he spent his early career as a newspaper sports writer and editor, becoming the sports editor of the Atlanta Journal at age 23, he is much better known for his humorous newspaper columns in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a popular stand-up comedian & lecturer.
Grizzard also published a total of twenty-five books, including collections of his columns (e.g. Chili Dawgs Always Bark at Night), expanded versions of his stand-up comedy routines (I Haven't Understood Anything Since 1962), and the autobiographical If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground. Although much of his comedy discussed the South and Grizzard’s personal and professional lives, it was also a commentary on issues prevalent throughout America, including relationships between men and women (e.g. If Love Were Oil, I'd Be About a Quart Low), politics, and health, especially heart health.
He made us laugh and think at the same time. Indeed, during his lifetime, Lewis Grizzard heard himself described as "this generation's Mark Twain," "one of the foremost humorists in the country" and "a Faulkner for plain folks" by the national press. What he was, without a doubt, was a masterful storyteller, stand-up comedian, syndicated columnist and best selling author.
Lewis Grizzard Museum: http://newnan.com/lg/
New Georgia Encyclopedia entry:
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/ng...
Grizzard also published a total of twenty-five books, including collections of his columns (e.g. Chili Dawgs Always Bark at Night), expanded versions of his stand-up comedy routines (I Haven't Understood Anything Since 1962), and the autobiographical If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground. Although much of his comedy discussed the South and Grizzard’s personal and professional lives, it was also a commentary on issues prevalent throughout America, including relationships between men and women (e.g. If Love Were Oil, I'd Be About a Quart Low), politics, and health, especially heart health.
He made us laugh and think at the same time. Indeed, during his lifetime, Lewis Grizzard heard himself described as "this generation's Mark Twain," "one of the foremost humorists in the country" and "a Faulkner for plain folks" by the national press. What he was, without a doubt, was a masterful storyteller, stand-up comedian, syndicated columnist and best selling author.
Lewis Grizzard Museum: http://newnan.com/lg/
New Georgia Encyclopedia entry:
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/ng...
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 7, 2015
3.5, rounded up to 4 in honor of my Daddy.
Yes, I still say Daddy because that's what I will always use no matter how old I am. My Daddy wasn't really a reader, but he never missed Lewis Grizzard ' s column in the newspaper, and he bought all of his books and laughed out loud reading them. I became a fan too and loved his take on life, his many wives, and his dog, Catfish. He was an honest humorist and never minded making fun of himself, as well as the dreaded Northerner, any football team that wasn't the University of Georgia, and anything else he thought needed skewering. He died in his 50's with a bad heart, so we'll never know how he would have handled this era of sensitivity and reluctance to offend. I'm thinking not very well.
This book is not great literature, but it was a nice walk down memory lane for me. Although some of his humor is dated and non-PC, he's still funny. I think I heard my Daddy laughing with me as I read.
Yes, I still say Daddy because that's what I will always use no matter how old I am. My Daddy wasn't really a reader, but he never missed Lewis Grizzard ' s column in the newspaper, and he bought all of his books and laughed out loud reading them. I became a fan too and loved his take on life, his many wives, and his dog, Catfish. He was an honest humorist and never minded making fun of himself, as well as the dreaded Northerner, any football team that wasn't the University of Georgia, and anything else he thought needed skewering. He died in his 50's with a bad heart, so we'll never know how he would have handled this era of sensitivity and reluctance to offend. I'm thinking not very well.
This book is not great literature, but it was a nice walk down memory lane for me. Although some of his humor is dated and non-PC, he's still funny. I think I heard my Daddy laughing with me as I read.
May 21, 2015
I was raised to be a "liberal Democrat". What my parents called open-minded and compassionate. I've lived in the south all my life (59 years) and occasionally read Lewis Grizzard in the Birmingham News - back when it was a honest to goodness daily paper and really did employ some fine journalists even though it's editorial columns were highly slanted toward the Chamber of Commerce and the ad buying population (little belief in the media equivalent of the separation of church and state). He made me mad then and he still does. He IS funny. But I just can't get past the "state's rights" stuff and all. As long as he takes cracks at the Northerner who thinks all Southerners are stupid and a job done right has to be done by someone above the Mason–Dixon line - then I can enjoy him. But he is just the dude who serves as justification for New York's skepticism of our intelligence and confirmation of our continued racism.
I do feel that I am Southern by the Grace of God, but hallelujah, my southerness differs from Mr Grizzard's. Sorry Lewis. May you RIP.
I do feel that I am Southern by the Grace of God, but hallelujah, my southerness differs from Mr Grizzard's. Sorry Lewis. May you RIP.
August 7, 2019
One of my favorite Southern authors and humorists. I always enjoyed reading this book, and others by him, in vacations to the lake house.
May 9, 2015
Lewis Grizzard and Mike Royko were two of the finest columnists from the South and North respectively. They both saw me through college and then some. They were a "must study" for a Journalism student and, while I loved them both, I miss Lewis most and his endless Southern wit. Lewis could write about okra one minute and politics the next and leave you with a grin on your face. He wrote without fear of offending and with witty honesty that is missing today. In this compilation, along with his usual witty repertoire, he mentions that Mike Royko was his idol. Idol or not, he had no problem calling his idol on the mat for mocking the South. That's just the man Lewis Grizzard was.
Sadly, Lewis never saw the millennium decade due to a "bad ticker" as he called it. I hope he is in Heaven now with his idol Mike Royko and that they are entertaining each other with their endless wit and honesty along with Lewis' lab retriever, Catfish, and his Momma that he dearly loved.
If you are Southern and you have never read anything by Lewis Grizzard, you have missed out on a lesson from a Southern journalistic master in wit, wisdom, politics and southern heritage. If you are a Northerner, Lewis will educate you on the proper use of the Southern y'all, on Bubba, grits and Dawgs.
Sadly, Lewis never saw the millennium decade due to a "bad ticker" as he called it. I hope he is in Heaven now with his idol Mike Royko and that they are entertaining each other with their endless wit and honesty along with Lewis' lab retriever, Catfish, and his Momma that he dearly loved.
If you are Southern and you have never read anything by Lewis Grizzard, you have missed out on a lesson from a Southern journalistic master in wit, wisdom, politics and southern heritage. If you are a Northerner, Lewis will educate you on the proper use of the Southern y'all, on Bubba, grits and Dawgs.
October 21, 2012
This was a book I have read before, but just one of those fun reads. I have always loved Lewis Grizzard's newpaper columns and this collection of columns is the best of his "Southern" columns. Love to read his thoughts on the South and laugh at the things all us Southerners have in common.
June 12, 2009
Collection of columns edited by Gerrie Finger
September 27, 2009
Not as good as some of his other works.
February 4, 2012
It wasn't as humorous as I thought it would be but, It reminded me of the people that have raised me. I'm not Southern but, I guess our way of living is quite Southern.
November 5, 2013
I love anything by Lewis Grizzard. I think the world needs more Lewis Grizzard and I miss his pithy humor.
May 8, 2015
Enjoyed this read.
February 12, 2020
Such a funny book.
March 18, 2016
read SOMETIME in 1999
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews